Top 10+ SEO Issues Killing Your Traffic

Everyone knows SEO is important to grow website traffic and brand awareness. But with so many factors influencing search engine rankings, it’s tough to know specifically which areas to focus on. As many are still not getting the results they want from SEO, I thought I’d look at some key issues that could be hurting your search rankings and offer tips on how to turn it around. I’ve broken this post down into two sections: common content issues and common optimization issues. Free Actionable Bonus: Looking to elevate your SEO strategy?We partnered with Jay Baer of Convince Convert to create this free ebook on 6 Ways to Fix Your Barebones SEO Strategy Content Issues That Hurt Your SEO Most experts will tell you that targeting your content’s keywords is essential to increase your search engine rankings. However, creating a successful SEO strategy takes much more than just relevant keywords. While it is necessary to understand your target audience and the search phrases they use, it’s equally important to create quality, informative content that provides relevant answers to a user’s query. Poor quality content, alternatively, can lead to higher bounce rates, which can reduce your search engine rank. 1. Bad Spelling and Grammar You wouldn’t distribute a business card with a glaring typo on it, right? Well, an untidy or grammatically incorrect website can send a similarly wrong impression. A small spelling error might seem simple to you, but it shows poor attention to detail to potential customers and partners. Be sure to give all your website content the same careful review as you would any business card, flyer or brochure. As an additional incentive to have quality content, poorly written content can also trip Google’s quality algorithms and further harm your ranking. Solution: Use tools to make sure your content’s spelling and grammar is perfect. Consider even hiring a freelance editor. 2. Duplicate Content Google’s goal is to give fresh and engaging content to users. Consequently, it will lower the rank of pages that have duplicate content, which makes original content not only essential for attracting more visitors but also vital for your search engines rankings. The web has plenty of rehashed, dull content so get ahead of the game with new custom content for your readers. Solution: Create unique, engaging, high-quality content. Simple as that. 3. Tired Content Have you ever searched for information in Google only to find several reworded Wikipedia articles? Evergreen content, content that never becomes dated due to changing information, is useful, but creating content that rehashes well-known resources brings no added value to readers. If you’re hoping to attract readers and customers by positioning yourself as an expert in your field, you need content that outshines competitors and scrapers. To be unique, find new ways to approach a problem and provide content tailored to your readers. This type of approach is much more valuable, will get more clicks and should improve your rankings. Solution: Consider how you can update old content to breathe new life into it. 4. Uninformative Content One way to stay ahead of competitors is to better understand the needs and pain points of your prospective audience. When readers type queries into Google, your site should answer those questions in the most engaging and direct way possible. If users find the information they searched for on your site and they engage with it, they are much more likely to eventually turn into leads and paying customers. Solution: create content with specific audience in mind. Depending on the situation this might be a demographic segment or segmenting based on the buyer journey. 5. Shallow Content Most SEO experts agree that Google favors in-depth content that offers value to readers. Brian Dean’s study of one million Google search results found a strong connection between the number of words on a page and its position in the SERPs – the average Google first page result contained 1,890 words. If you can deliver this kind of content, it will boost your credibility and you’re likely to be rewarded with higher rankings. Littering shallow content with keywords will no longer cut it. Solution: Take the time to produce in-depth content or consider hiring a professional writer to do it for you. Common Optimization Issues Once you’re happy with the quality and depth of your content, the next thing to focus on is ticking all the optimization boxes. While there is a lot that goes in to the technical optimization side, let’s focus on some of the common mistakes. 6. Not Optimizing for Snippets Believe it or not, SEO isn’t only about ranking #1 anymore. Google has recently started prioritizing and adding new types of SERP snippets which display prominently above the organic search results. Sometimes called â€Å"ranking #0â€Å", featured snippets represent a great opportunity for companies to outrank competitors by providing succinct answers to common questions. If you aren’t creating content for SERP snippets then we may have just found what’s killing your traffic. Solution: Start creating content for snippets. Answer, definitions, lists, tables and chart are some of the most common types of snippets, so look to include those in your content if possible. 7. Title Tags Issues Search engines use title tags – or page titles – to gather information about your website. They also appear in the clickable link in search engine results pages (SERPs). Duplicate or missing title tags will harm your rankings because they don’t provide users or search engines with the relevant information about your content. Solution: Write title tags for every web page using keywords relevant to the page’s content. According to Moz, Google typically displays the first 50 to 60 characters of a title tag, so keep them within these parameters to ensure they display correctly, achieve maximum impact and encourage click-throughs to your site. 8. No Structured Data Related to featured snippets and title tags, is structured data. Structured data is essentially a way of helping Google understand a piece of content by including certain markups in the content which are then displayed on the search engine results page. While structured data itself isn’t a ranking signal, it does provide a way for you to enrich your search snippets and increase CTR (similar to featured snippets). That means if your competitors are using structured markup and you aren’t, it could be killing your traffic. Solution: Make sure your most important content has the appropriate structured markup. There are a variety of markup types depending on the type of content, so be sure to pick the most relevant markup available. 9. Broken Links As your site expands, multiple broken links can become a problem and 404-page errors will reduce web traffic and damage your reputation. They will also obstruct search engine crawlers from indexing other valuable pages on your site, which will devalue your search rankings. Solution: Use Google Search Console or another site audit tool to find any dead links. Then remove the link or set up a 301 redirect to automatically send visitors to a new page. 10. Unnatural Anchor Text Anchor text – the clickable text in a hyperlink – is an often ignored element of SEO. However, many websites have been penalized for using too many unnatural anchor texts on a web page, in an attempt to â€Å"trick† search engines. Solution: Keep anchor texts relevant to the content you place them in and use different types of anchors. For example, include your brand name in the text, use long-tail keyphrases, post naked URL links and use variations of your main keywords in each anchor text. Also, remember to only link to quality sites that are relevant to your niche. 11. Speed Issues In 2010, Google officially included page loading times as a ranking factor, penalizing websites with slow-loading web pages. There are various factors influencing page speed, but large images are a common weak spot. Solution: Use Google’s Page Speed Insights tool to measure the performance of your site. It also offers tips to improve your site speed. For example, optimize your images to keep them under 100kb and use the jpeg format. Check out this Moz article about page speed best practices for some additional tips. Fix These SEO Issues to Get Results These common SEO issues are damaging the search rankings of many web pages. Do you recognize any of these problems with your own site? If so, don’t worry. Although they may be affecting your traffic now, there are simple fixes you can perform to improve your rankings. SEO is an ongoing process and it’s unrealistic to think you can eliminate every SEO problem right away. Just tackle each issue one at a time and you’ll soon be delivering more powerful content that achieves higher search engine rankings and reaches more of your target audience. Do you need unique, quality content to support your SEO goals? Constant Content connects you with thousands of professional writers able to create articles, ebooks, product descriptions and other assets that engage readers while increasing search rank. Editor’s note: This post was updated March and May 2018 for accuracy and relevance.

Polyprod and Ben Jerrys-Case analysis

Polyprod and Ben Jerrys-Case analysis The first activity in planning and implementing organisational change is to motivate commitment to it. The activity of motivating change aims to prevent the failure of change efforts by attending to the tasks of creating readiness for change and overcoming resistance to change (Cummings Worley, 2009). In our cases of two very different organisations, high-tech product manufacturer and distributor PolyProd, and Vermont-based ice-cream maker Ben Jerry's, a lack of motivation to change would doom any proposed organisational development intervention to failure. A first step in ensuring that this does not happen is to address both readiness for and resistance to change in each company. In considering the key issue of how to motivate change at the very outset of an intervention, we are most concerned with creating readiness for change and overcoming resistance.In PolyProd, a non-integrated organisational structure combined with previously failed change efforts have created significant re sistance to change; however, the widespread sense of hurt arising from an unsatisfactory status quo could be tapped to create readiness for change.Ford KugaTDCi, Gen1 (from 2008), BEN Jerry's, rapid growth and a "laid back" leadership style have contributed to their evolution into an under-organised company, with negative impact on working conditions. Readiness for change is palpable throughout the company, yet there is strong resistance to change from the founders, the eponymous Ben and Jerry. The founders are the defenders of company core values which put people first, yet change is needed to ensure that at the operational level the needs and aspirations of employees are actually met. Listening to each other's concerns empathetically and in an environment of trust would allow the alignment of goals resulting in a collaborative motivation to change.Motivating for Successful ChangeAlthough change...

5 Study Tips to Improve Your SAT Weaknesses

You’re a pro at one section of the SAT, but you just can’t seem to nudge your score up in the other.   How can you develop skills to master weak areas? Read on for five tips for improving your SAT weaknesses. You can’t measure improvement or hone weak areas if you don’t know where you’re starting. Take a diagnostic test to find out where you are. ’s diagnostic test identifies specific strengths and weaknesses within each skill set and area the test measures. The PSAT can also give you an early indication of where you should focus your efforts. When you receive your score report, you’ll not only be able to view your overall scores for each section, but you’ll also see sub-scores for individual skills: Command of Evidence, Words in Context, Expression of Ideas, Standard English Conventions, Heart of Algebra, Problem Solving and Data Analysis, and Passport to Advanced Math. That way, you’ll be able to know if, say, problem solving was the specific weakness that contributed to a lower score in the Math section, and recognize that that’s where you should focus your attention. To better understand your PSAT scores, read What Does My PSAT Score Mean? . Remember that the PSAT doesn’t necessarily correlate to your future performance on the SAT. You’ll take more classes and expand your breadth of knowledge before you take the SAT; the PSAT can serve as an indication of what you should aim to improve before the actual test. Taking a diagnostic test early gives you time to prepare and retake the test if you need to. As you take more practice tests, you’ll become more familiar with the layout of the test. If you start preparing later, some of the aspects and feature of the test might trip you up, since you won’t be as used to them. Starting early means you’ll gain the ability to work within time constraints, understand the structure, and become familiar with the skills you need to master to conquer individual sections. For instance, the Reading section requires strong critical thinking skills, vocabulary, and ability to use context clues to determine the meaning of a passage. As you read more passages on practice tests, you’ll become adept at knowing how to deconstruct the text and pulling out important information. You’ll also gain insight into your own habits and the mistakes you routinely make. When practicing and scoring, pay attention to the types of questions you routinely get wrong. For instance, perhaps you’re not reading word problems on the Math section carefully enough. Missing key words because you’re rushing can mean the difference between a correct and incorrect answer. After enough practice, you’ll know what mistakes to be on the lookout for as you check your work. Our students see an average increase of 250 points on their SAT scores. Once you know your weak areas, develop creative ways to hone your skills. For example, using apps are a great way to practice, and you can focus on specific types of questions. Khan Academy, Daily Practice from College Board, and The Official SAT Question of the Day are some great apps to use. Are you having trouble with particular math problems and wasting time flipping back and forth to the formulas page? Institute a â€Å"formula of the day† policy, focusing on a specific formula to memorize each day. Or, if vocabulary is an issue, have a â€Å"word of the day† to memorize. Study with friends—if you’re each stronger in different areas, you can share strategies to help each other master weaker areas. Time management is key to doing well on the SAT. Understanding the components of the test and how much time you’re allotted for each part will help you prepare. Components include: Reading: 52 multiple-choice questions, 65 minutes. Writing and Language: 44 multiple-choice questions, 25 minutes Math—No Calculator: 15 multiple-choice questions, 25 minutes Math—With Calculator section: 55 minutes, 30 multiple-choice questions and 8 grid-in questions Tip: Break down your time as follows For more tips on planning out how much time to spend on each section on the SAT, check out How to Pace Yourself on Every Section of the SAT. When studying, simulate this testing environment at least a few times so you can practice working within the time constraints. Tutors can help you develop competencies in weaker areas. Since they know the test, they know what it’s measuring—and what you need to do to improve. They can also provide resources and materials such as practice tests to help you study.

Mergers and acquisitions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Mergers and acquisitions - Essay Example Concerning this particular aspect, this paper presents a case study analysis of three recent mergers at a cross-border level, i.e. Johnson & Johnsons acquisition of Synthes GmbH, Microsoft Corporations acquisition of Skype Technologies, China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC)s acquisition of Nexen Inc. The study signifies that culture, business industry trends and also governmental policies among other attributes play a vital role as a cause of M&As performed by these companies. M&As are often considered as an important strategic function in the modern day business context where recent studies have revealed that companies principally tend to use the strategy of M&A with the intention of enhancing their performances in terms of profitability, greater market share attainment, better resources allocation, risk diversification as well as business expansion. Various factors have been identified in this context to be influencing the performances of companies and therefore, motivating organisational leaders towards the adoption of M&A strategies such as economic and political trade policies enactments as well as social functions. Moreover, globalisation as well as advancement of technology has influenced companies to adopt this strategy in order to perform effectively in the increasingly competitive global market (Coeurdacier & et. al., 2009). In this regard, companies have adopted M&A strategies with the objective of improving competitiveness as well as growth of its market share. It is in this context that M&A strategies assist companies in restructuring its business operations in order to improve its business performances in the global realm (Directors & Boards, 2006). Additionally, it has been observed that the strategy of M&As assist companies in acquiring larger market share, better resources accessibility and an enhanced competitive position within a short term period, thus minimising many hazards which are commonly witnessed by modern day

How to get victims of rape and sexual assault to report their attack Research Paper

How to get victims of rape and sexual assault to report their attack - Research Paper Example Discussion in the paper brings this core idea to everyone’s notice. Paradoxically as it may seem, but the social pressure and the human opinion from the sidelines impacts the decision making process of those suffering from the negative phenomena of the society itself. It is all about the victims of the sexual assault and people who commit such crimes against them. It is difficult to make out the optimal remedy for getting the victims report on the cases of assault. However, all methods would be good for the sake of the final result, i.e. punishment of the criminal. In this case each individual would feel himself/herself in safety. Thus, to make a victim feel free to report on the case of rape is to provide a victim with the feeling of care, support, and security at each stage of the investigation. First of all, the current situation with law and order in the United States of America leaves much to be desired. Most of the victims living in the streets of the huge cities like New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and others take it for granted that police and the judicial system of the US cannot prevent the society from the growing threat of the crime. It means that most of the victims do not even go to police having an idea that nothing will help them in their situation. On the other hand, they do not want to disclose such a negative case in their lives so that to keep themselves on a safe side from the overall social regrets and, say, blames. The trace of rape is never easy to bear for a victim. However, the society cannot realize it to the full. Golden et al. (2010) admit in their study on the rape as a social drawback the following idea, namely: â€Å"The continued judgment of, or disdain for, victims of rape is a form of social stigmatization† (p. 160). Hereby, the way to make a victim open to the talk on such a subtle topic from his/her life is to feel keenly the scenario of the rape and the

Hardys dramatic dialogue Essay Example for Free

Hardys dramatic dialogue Essay Denying the harsh moral codes set upon you can at times improve your material circumstances; however it can reduce you to a situation lower than poverty. Hardys dramatic dialogue The Ruined Maid attempts to portray the injustices and ironies of Victorian morality. Hardy is able to achieve this through his elaborate control over language. The class distinctions and moral codes placed upon women in the Victorian era have a large degree of irony. In the first stanza Hardy introduces two women: an unnamed, impoverished farm maid and a relatively wealthy ruined woman. The fact that the farm maid is unnamed shows her relatively insignificant life in comparison to the ruined woman who is named. The ruined woman (Melia) is said to have acquired fair garments, illustrating her affluence as the adjective fair suggests her clothes were of great beauty. The farm maid also wonders how Melia has come across such prosperi-ty emphasising her newfound wealth. Melia states that she has acquired this wealth as she has been ruined. By crossing the Victorian morality line and selling herself she has been rewarded instead of being looked down upon. In the second stanza Hardy contrasts the two womens lifestyles to illustrate their vast differences. Hardy uses negative diction such as the noun tatters to describe the poverty-stricken woman clothing which contrasts to the description of the wealthier woman in the first stanza. Hardy also contrasts this in the second stanza where Hardy uses positive diction with vibrant connotations such as gay bracelets and bright feathers to again describe the ruined womans clothing. The use of juxtaposition between the poverty of one woman and the relative wealth of Melia emphasises their class differences. The ruined woman, obviously gaining from her denial of normal moral codes, states thats how we dress when we are ruined. This illustrates that all women in her profession wear wealthy clothing, portraying the ironies of Victorian moral rectitude. Restrained in the entrenched Victorian class system with its moral and economic confines women at times have to escape in order to improve their situation. In the third stanza Hardy illustrates the ruined womans original poverty. She is described to have had a home in the barton, illustrating her initial lack of wealth through the use of the noun barton. Melia is said to have in the past used archaic, colloquial language such as thee and thou portraying her earlier impoverishment; only those of the lower classes would have used these words. However Hardy contrasts this with the womans talking which now fits ee for high company, again emphasising her gain from selling herself. Melia says that some polish is gained with ones ruin. The noun polish suggests the woman has gained refinement by becoming ruined, illustrating the potential gains from defying Victorian moral codes. This can also portray the hypocrisy of Victorian society as pure, virginal women are approved of; however happen to live depressing, miserable lives. In the fourth stanza Hardy again contrasts the womans current position with her past one, describing how she used to have paws and a face blue and bleak. The fact that her hands are said to have been paws illustrates the strenuous work she had to endure. The adjective bleak is an example of a synecdoche as it is used to illustrate Meilas former emotions. However she is now said to have little gloves and a delicate cheek portraying her dramatic improvement both in her occupation and emotionally. The last line: we never do work when were ruined emphasises her lack of taxing labour after becoming ruined. Crossing the morality line can at times result in improvements to ones position economically. By defying Victorian morality ones situation is condemned to being lower than the poverty of those who are pure and righteous. In the fifth stanza Hardy again uses negative diction to describe Melias past position. Hardy illustrates that she used to view her life as a hag-ridden dream portraying her past depressive outlook on life due to her previous poverty. She is said to have sigh[ed] and sock[ed] emphasising her negative view on life. However now she know[s] not of melancholy. This shows her emotional improvement as a result of becoming ruined. In the last stanza the farm girl says she wished she was like her former friend and had feathers and a fine sweeping gown. This illustrates her misunderstanding of Melias new profession due to her poverty. She is unable to see through the vivacious fai ade of Melias wealthy clothing in order to see the realities of her occupation. Melia however separates herself from her former friend stating that she is but a raw country girl. The adjective raw again emphasises the girls righteousness and innocence contrasted to the other womans ruined morality. The two women are completely different due to the chasmic nature of the Victorian class distinctions and Melias decision to sell herself. Melias also denies the farm maid of her dreams stating that she cannot quite expect that. Although she wishes she could become wealthy she cant escape the class which she was born into. Melia says that you aint ruined showing that to become rich after being born into the lower classes you must become ruined. However this could also be seen as a warning to the other woman to hold on to her maidenly modesty due to its huge worth in Victorian society. Furthermore Hardy uses the colloquial expression aint to show the reader that the ruined woman hasnt escaped her poor origins. Women of the Victorian times held a very insecure position in society; one which could change dramatically just by defying ironic moral codes. In The Ruined Maid Hardy attempts to show the ironies and injustices place upon women in the Victorian era. He shows that although one may improve their economic situation by defying the moral codes of their society they are condemned to a fate worse than poverty.

The Vanguard Group Essay -- essays research papers

The Vanguard Group Four C Analysis Company: The Vanguard Group, headquartered in Valley Forge, PA, is the nation’s second-largest mutual fund and a leading provider of company-sponsored retirement plan services. Vanguard serves come 18 million shareholders accounts and manages approximately $850 billion in US mutual fund asssets, including more than $260 billion in employer-sponsored retirement plans. Vanguard offers 130 funds to US investors and 40 additional funds in foreign markets. Vanguard’s corporate structure creates two major benefits for its shareholders:  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Tremendous cost savings  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Services with an unwavering client focus Admiral Shares were introduced by Vanguard in November 2000 to recognize and encourage the cost savings associated with large and long-tenured accounts by passing along these savings to these shareholders in the form of lower fund expense ratios. Vanguard is simplifying the eligibility criteria for Admiral Shares and lowering the account balance requirements, effective May 10, 2005. Under the new criteria, a Vanguard shareholder owning a regular or IRA account will qualify for Admiral Shares under the following circumstances:  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The fund account balance totals $100,000 or more. (Previously, a balance of $250,000 was required, or a $150,000 balance in a fund account established for at least three years.)  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The fund account balance totals $50,000 or more and the fund account has been established for at least ten years. (Registration for online account access on Vanguard.com ® is also required.) Competition:  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Fidelity  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  American Funds In August, Fidelity voluntarily capped expenses on its domestic equity index funds at 0.1 percent, undercutting fees on similar offerings from Vanguard. By making its index mutual funds the cheapest on the market, Fidelity has issued a challenge to Vanguard, and thrown up a significant hurdle for the indexing expert. And the change may well keep some assets under the Fidelity roof. The firm has added $2 billion in new index assets since its initial reduction in fees. However, Fidelity's $10,000 minimum may put off some new investors. Condition: With Wall Street entering an era of slower earnings growth, every penny o... ... market has also been rocked lately by several scandals involving improper mutual fund trading. Over the past year, a dozen mutual-fund companies have agreed to pay nearly $2 billion in fines. (not Vanguard) Fact Sheet Company name: The Vanguard Group Corporate headquarters: Valley Forge, Pennsylvania Founded: May 1, 1975 First fund: Wellington Fund (inception date: July 1, 1929) Offices: Valley Forge, Pennsylvania; Scottsdale, Arizona; Charlotte, North Carolina; Melbourne, Australia; Brussels, Belgium; Singapore; Tokyo, Japan Total assets: Approximately $850 billion in U.S. mutual funds (as of 05/31/2005) Number of funds: 130 domestic funds (including variable annuity portfolios); 35 additional funds in international markets Number of investors: 18 million institutional and individual shareholder accounts Chairman and CEO: John J. Brennan Number of employees (crew): More than 10,000 U.S.-based Largest fund: Vanguard ® 500 Index Fund—$104 billion (Admiralâ„ ¢ and Investor share classes, as of 5/31/2005) Aggregate expense ratio: 0.23% (expenses as a percentage of 2004 average complex net assets) Mailing address: P.O. Box 2600, Valley Forge, PA 19482 Website address: www.Vanguard.com

Richard Brandt

Richard Brandt: Rule Utilitarianism Chapter two in our book Philosophical Perspectives on Punishment covers different philosopher’s views on Rule Utilitarianism and how it is applied to misconduct and unlawful acts. In Richard Brandt’s discussion he raises three questions that should be addressed when identifying our American system of punishment. What is justifiable punishment for a criminals past actions? What are good principles of punishment? What defenses should be used as good excuses to keep someone from being punished? Our actions should be guided by a set of prescriptions the conscientious following of which by all would have maximum net expectable utility† (Brandt, 1972). In Utilitarianism they choose the set of rules or practices that would produce the greatest net expectable utility if everyone followed them.Net Expectable Utility is a more positive outcome for a higher percentage of the population. Brandt believes our system of punishment is based on three assumptions: (1) Fear of punishment deters criminal behavior. (2) Imprisonment or fines make repeat offenders less likely. 3) Imprisonment stops the criminal from harming society while that person is in prison or incarcerated. â€Å"Punishment is itself an evil, and hence should be avoided where this is consistent with the public good. Punishment should have precisely such a degree of severity that the probable disutility of greater severity just balances the probable gain in utility (less crime because of more serious threat)†(p. 94). I have to agree with Brandt on this view because if the punishment does not fit the crime, criminal behavior is sure to be more prevalent.I’m a firm believer in scaring the malicious minds into acting lawfully and abiding by the law in order to keep the majority of the public safe. Brandt says that the cost should be counted along with the value of what is bought. This means to me that the punishment HAS to equal, if not be greater , then the crime. He also says that many criminals will go undetected and because of that some penalties will have to be so severe that the risks outweigh the gain in whatever the crime might be.Another agreeable point Brandt makes is that the more serious crimes should carry the heavier penalties not just for prevention of the crime but also to motivate the criminals to commit a less serious rather then a more serious crime. To make sure that the same punishment be inflicted on any social status, and that the same suffering is felt from the crime, Brandt says that heavier fines would be given to a richer man then to a poorer man. If a rich man were to receive the same fine as a poor man it may barely give him any suffering at all.While if a poor man met the same penalty financially as a rich man he may remain in debt for the remainder of his life. Brandt then begins to speak Jeremy Bentham and of such â€Å"excuses† that would not make a person criminally liable for a crime. He first mentions that a man who committed a crime that was not yet a law cannot later be punished for it. I have to agree here because you aren’t breaking the law if it isn’t one yet. I also, however, believe that if that prior â€Å"non-law† is severe enough and the evidence is still applicable in court then the person can be tried and found guilty after the fact.His second excuse is that the law had not yet been made public. In order for the public to know they are performing a unlawful act they must first know that what they are doing is against the law and can result in punishment and fines. The third excuse is that if the offender was an infant, insane or intoxicated they should also be excused of the crime. I think that underage and insane offenders may have a legitimate excuse, and the same may go for the intoxicated but in order for the intoxicated to be excused from punishment, it must not be voluntary intoxication.Bentham then says the offender can b e excused if they were ignorant of the possible consequences and thought they were acting in a lawful way. I don’t agree with this view because it is the citizens responsibility to know that he or she is acting unlawfully and what the consequences of their actions may be. â€Å"I didn’t know I couldn’t do that† is something police officers hear all the time and if they let everyone who said that to them go free they’d probably be out of a job. Bentham’s final excuse is â€Å"that the motivation to commit the offense was so strong that no threat of law could prevent the crime† (Brandt, 1972).I believe that some offenders get angry enough to ignore the consequences of the crime they about to commit but this is still not excuse for breaking the law and the law should still be applied to these people. How would a judge be able to determine if someone was acting maliciously or out of pure emotion? Richard Brandt states that Bentham’ s legal defenses need some amending. He says that not punishing in certain cases will reduce the amount of suffering brought to the public by the law and that by not punishing in all of these cases will cause a â€Å"negligible increase in the incidence of crime† (Brandt, 1972).Brandt says that the utilitarian is committed to defend the concept of â€Å"strict liability† in order to get a strong deterrent effect when everyone knows that all behavior of a certain sort would be punished. When speaking of impulsive actions that lead to criminal actions Brandt says that people who commit impulsive crimes in the heat of anger don’t think about the consequences of their action and therefore would not be deterred by a stricter law.He also says that these people are unlikely to repeat the crime so that a smaller sentence should be given to them in order to save a good man for society. I like this idea but I find it hard to agree with completely. Who is to say which crim es are impulsive and which crimes are premeditated? Of course, some circumstances make it obvious which are impulsive for example, a man saving a small child or woman from a kidnapper and killing them in the process, but many crimes can be called impulsive and therefore let a man who isn’t telling the truth receive a lesser punishment for his crime.Richard Brandt says that some say utilitarianism needs to view imprisonment for crime in the same light as quarantining and individual. He uses the example of someone being quarantined after being diagnosed with leprosy. They are taken away from public for the greater good of the public in order to not spread disease. We cannot treat criminals the same however. Criminals need to be shown punishment for their crime so going to prison cannot be made comfortable to them.It has to be a time of sorrow and pity so that it both fears prospective criminals and prevents criminals from becoming repeat offenders. Most criminals will be allowe d back into society after severing their time, lepers will never see society again. â€Å"There is a difference between the kind of treatment justified on utilitarian grounds for a person who may have to make a sacrifice for the public welfare through no fault of his own, and for a person who is required to make a sacrifice because he has selfishly and deliberately trampled on the rights of others, in clear view f the fact that if he is apprehended society must make an example of him† (Brandt, 1972) My favorite part of this section is when Richard Brandt compared the utilitarian view of punishment to that of a parent with a child. A parent lets the child know of the rules, about how to be safe, and about right and wrong. The child must know of the bad act before he or she can be punished for it. A parent will give a more severe punishment to their child according to what they have done to break a rule.The parent establishes rules for the â€Å"future good of the child† (Brandt, 1972). All this is done to make life at home tolerable and to ensure that the future of the child is a bright and successful one, punishment is an essential part of every one of our lives and whether we are avoiding it or being put through punishment, it is for the greater good. WORKS CITED Brandt, Richard. (1972). Rule utilitarinism (iii). In G Ezorsky (Ed. ), Philosophical Perspectives on Punishment (pp. 93-101). Albany: State University of New York Press

Client-server and Human Resource Essay

The proponents have found the following studies and literature as relevant to the system being proposed. The review of related literature and studies will serve as an overview of the presentation in the analysis of the system. INTRODUCTION Human Resource Information System (HRIS) improves information and communication between the company and the employees; it becomes an important strategic tool since it collect, manages and reports information for decision making. Modern HRIS needs to help the organizations by automating most of the Human Resource (HR) functions. The changing world new technology that is available, managers need to be aware of the technology that will increase effectiveness in the company. Early Human Resource, then called personnel, were limited to employee record keeping and were provided as a service to the organization. There was no HRIS as we know it today. Personnel record keeping was done by hand, oftentimes utilizing a system as simple as an index card file. The personnel department was typically small with little power and limited interaction with the organization’s business mission. After WWII organizations became more aware of human capital issues recognizing the importance of employe e morale in the success of organizations. Formal selection and development processes were developed but there was no real change from the original responsibility of the â€Å"personnel† department that of record keeping. As record keeping was still done by hand, HR information systems, pre-1960, hardly gave a hint of what they would become with the advent of workplace technology. In the late 1960’s and 1970’s the term â€Å"human resource management† gained common usage in place of the term â€Å"personnel† and by 1974 the new term, human resource management, was appearing in media headlines and was eventually shortened to just â€Å"HR.† From the 60’s to the 80’s organizations firmly integrated HR into their core business missions. At the same time regulatory reporting requirements for employees increased significantly. Large organizations used mainframe computers to maintain organization data bases and technology based Human Resource Information Systems (HRIS) provided an efficient solution for the increased record-keeping and reporting required by government regulation. The human resources department became one of the most important users of the org anization’s computer systems, though the primary task was still record-keeping. In this modern era of Information Technology (I.T), human resource information system (HRIS) has become an important management discipline at enterprise level. HRIS plays a vital role in implementing the strategic business objectives of the organization, and in running the daily operations/functions efficiently and effectively to improve the productivity and proficiency, human capital becomes the only sustainable resource of the competitive advantage for an organization. Firms that is successful at finding, managing, retaining and developing good employees. Since 1990, the economical rapid change with globalization and technological innovations led for the development of human resource information systems (HRIS) and advanced internet capability facilitates to create a real-time shared data information-based, self-service, and interactive work environment. Information Technology with web-enabled capabilities helps human resource (HR) as it becomes a more horizontal and self-learning o rganization, by enabling human resource to contribute to the strategic focus of the organization. The strategically focus in human resource significance from the resource-based view of the firm that treats human capital as a strategic asset and a competitive advantage in improving organizational performance. Human Resource Information System is a systematic procedure for collecting, storing, maintaining, retrieving, and validating data needed by an organization. HRIS comes to the rescue of human resource professionals, because it has common shared database, tools to analyze to aid in decision making and many other features such as scanning and matching resumes compatible with requirement of the organization. HRIS empowers the employees to access their personnel records, view the payroll, tax payments and compensational benefits like health coverage, retirement benefits and other perks and incentives. In the literature, Database, Employee Tracking, Benefits Administration, Payroll Administration, Employee Interfaces and attendance monitoring are deemed to be major components of hu man resource information systems. REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE John Gill et al., (2010) described the HRIS is a computerized system typically comprising a database or inter-related databases that track employees and their employment-specific information. Broderick (1992) states that HRIS can influence effectiveness in four ways: Firstly, with emphasis on increased productivity from the workforce, recruitment, short term working, temporary, and less redundancies. Secondly, it deals with the increasing demands made be legislation, which related to HR practices and the increased need to produce statistics for government. The third factor was the rate of the development of computer technology. The final factor was the increased availability of HRIS at lower costs. The professional body argued that effective HRIS use leads to efficiency. Michael et al., 2008] Florkowski et al., (2006) in his research paper: ‘The diffusion of human-resource information technology innovations in US and nonUS firms’, evaluated the diffusion of information technologies that are transforming HR service-delivery and revealed that the modest correlation between the number of acquired Information Technologies (IT) and HR-transactions automation supports the general call for more formalized HR-technology strategies at the firm level to coordinate purchasing and implementation decisions. Hussain ZI (2002) in his article stated that HRIS can help large or small businesses. By organizing the payroll, benefits and employee information among other things, it’s imperative to stay current on any changes to this software. Keeping the HR information system secure and compliant with other software should be the most important aspect. (International Journal of Research in Economics & Social Sciences 52 http://www.euroasiapub.org ) The emergence of Information Technology, especially internet-enabled technology has affected and enhanced many management areas that include HR management. The decreasing costs of computer technology versus the increasing costs of employee compensation and benefits made acquisition of computer-based HR systems (HRIS) a necessary business decision. Resource Information Systems in Jordanian Universities ABSTRACT The main purposes of this study are to explore the extent to which public Jordanian universities have adopted Human Resource Information System (HRIS) and to examine the current HRIS uses, benefits and barriers in these universities. A structured questionnaire was constructed based on other previous studies; it also pre-tested, modified and translated to capture data from HRIS users in Jordanian universities. The main findings of this study revealed that the quick response and access to information were the main benefits of HRIS implementation. While the insufficient financial support; difficulty in changing the organization’s culture and lack of commitment from top managers were the main HRIS implementation barriers. The present study provides some insights into the performance and applications of HRIS in Jordanian universities that could help Human Resource Management (HRM) practitioners to get a better understanding of the current HRIS uses, benefits and problems, which in turn, will improve the effectiveness of HRIS in Jordanian universities. (http://www.google.com.ph/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=related+studies+of+hris&source=web&cd=8&cad=rja&ved=0CFgQFjAH&url=http%3A%2F%2Fjournal.ccsenet.org%2Findex.php%2Fijbm%2Farticle%2Fdownload%2F7638%2F5867&ei=JjeGUPzYA-qNmQW3uIHQAQ&usg=AFQjCNHTHGH-AykQNcyM-sDYPla0MI9RHA) Human Resource Information System The system that seeks to combine the task and activities involved with human resource management and information technology (IT) into one universal database through the use of enterprise resource planning (ERP) software. The goal and objectives of HRIS is to combine the different parts of human resources including payroll, labor productivity, and benefit management into a less capital-intensive system than the mainframes used to manage activities in the past. Which is also called Human Resource Management Systems (HRMS). The Human Resource Information System is a database software or online solution for the data entry, data tracking, and data information needs of the Human Resources, payroll, management, and accounting functions within a business. Generally packaged as a data base, hundreds of companies sell some form of HRIS and every HRIS has different capabilities. Pick your HRIS carefully based on the capabilities one need in one company. Figure1.HRIS Human Resources Information System is a system that lets you keep track on all of employees and information about them. This is basically done in a database or, more often, in a series of inter-related databases. These systems include the employee name and contact information and all or some of the following: department, job title, grade, salary, salary history, position history, supervisor, training completed, special qualifications, ethnicity, date of birth, disabilities, veteran’s status, visa status, benefits selected, and more. (http://managementdemand.com/2012/07/hris/) How can HRIS contribute value to the organization? An HRIS serves two major purposes in organizations: HR Administrative and Operational Role: The first purpose of an HRIS is to improve the efficiency with which data on employees and HR activities is compiled. Many HR activities can be performed more efficiently and with less paperwork if automated. When on-line data input is used, fewer forms must be stored, and less manual record keeping is necessary. Much of the reengineering of HR activities has focused on identifying the flow of HR data and how the data can be retrieved more efficiently for authorized users. Workflow, automation of some HR activities, and automation of HR record keeping are key to improve HR operations by making workflow more efficient. HR Strategic Role: The second purpose of an HRIS is more strategic and related to HR planning. Having accessible data enables HR planning and managerial decision making to be based to a greater degree on information rather than relying on managerial perception and intuition. For example, instead of manually doing a turnover analysis by department, length of service, and educational background, a specialist can quickly compile such a report by using an HRIS and various sorting and analysis functions. Human resource management (HRM) has grown in strategic value in many organizations; accordingly, there has been an increased emphasis on obtaining and using HRIS data for strategic planning and human resource forecasting, which focus on broader HR effectiveness over time. What are the Uses of an HRIS? An HRIS has many uses in an organization. The most basic is the automation of payroll and benefit activities. With an HRIS, employees’ time records are entered into the system, and the appropriate deductions and other individual adjustments are reflected in the final paychecks. As a result of HRIS development and implementation in many organizations, several payroll functions are being transferred from accounting departments to HR departments. Beyond these basic activities, many other HR activities can be affected by the use of an HRIS. Figure2. Uses of Human Resource Information System (http://www.nmatec.com/hrwise/what) REVIEW OF RELATED SYSTEMS ASSESSMENT OF SUPPORT AND BENEFITS OF HRIS IN MEDIUM-SCALE TEXTILE INDUSTRIES ABSTRACT In the current fast-paced global competitive business environment, the efficient and effective management of human capital is an immense challenge to the human resource departments Information systems contributes to improve the organizational performance, and enhance the competencies of human resource professionals. This paper aims to assess and establish the support levels and the benefits of the human resource information systems in the medium scale textile industries. As a core part of the study, the primary data was collected from the selected of respondents of textile companies who are using human resource information systems with the help of a survey questionnaire. The data analysis that was performed using cumulative weighted average technique concludes highly moderate support levels of human resource information systems exists in the medium-scale textile industries and they are able to attain only 2/3 of the benefits. Further the research, based on an evolutionary view of computing growth suggests improvements in the human resource information systems in order to gain the competitive advantage and to maximize the benefits. (International Journal of Research in Economics & Social Sciences 52 http://www.euroasiapub.org ) THE ROLE OF HUMAN RESOURCE INFORMATION SYSTEMS IN HUMAN RESOURCE PLANNING IN PRIVATE SECTOR ORGANIZATIONS IN SRI LANKA ABSTRACT Human Resource Information System (HRIS) has become one of most vital information systems in the market. This study focuses on the role of HRIS in human resource planning (HR) in private sector organizations in Sri Lanka. The purpose is to explore the functionality and contribution of HRIS in HR planning through HRIS recruiting and training & development subsystems as perceived by senior HR executives in Sri Lankan private sector organizations. A pilot survey was carried out to identify the problem using structured interviews with Heads of HR of three selected private companies. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data from senior HR executives of selected private sector companies in Sri Lanka. Answers received from 89 respondents were analyzed. The overall response rate was 48 percent. The deductive mode of reasoning, cross-sectional study and quantitative techniques were selected as research methods. The results of the survey showed that the most frequently accepted HRIS feature is training needs analysis (TNA) and that there is high positive correlation between HRIS job analysis and the effectiveness of HR planning. Most Sri Lankan private sector organizations perceived the contribution to efficiency of HR planning through HRIS skill inventory, HRIS TNA, HRIS training program evaluation, HRIS succession planning, HRIS labor demand and supply analysis and decision-making, as the greatest contribution of HRIS. This study shows that HRIS needs to offer more intelligent capabilities to increase the effectiveness of HR planning. HRIS vendors need to win the trust of HR professionals through enriching features and increasing the awareness and usage of HRIS in HR planning, especially its effectiveness. DEVELOPMENT OF HR INFORMATION SYSTEM FOR AN AEROSPACE INDUSTRY ABSTRACT The usage of a proper HR Information System (HRIS) has always been an important contribution for the HR (HR) operation in any organisation to work effectively. HR is one of the important functions of any industry. Hence it is important to keep this function equally efficient and effective compared to other operations in an organisation. One of the factors which contribute to the proper functioning of HR operation is data. Storing, analysing, processing and retrieving of data for decision making become necessary in this context. In the current study, the existing manual systems and processes in the HR department has been studied and observed. By studying the various processes with the help of tools like flow charts, use cases and data flow diagrams various parameters has been analysed. The HRIS has been designed using object oriented analysis and design methodology along with PHP version 5.0 for the front end and MySQL as backend database. Various forms like employee information, leave approval has been designed. Partial implementation of HRIS with Leave Management System as one of the modules has been carried out. Various reports like new and existing employees, leave pending/approval has been created. The HRIS has been implemented against the existing system on internal server with Windows operating system which reduced 49.24% of time compared to the existing system. The developed HRIS will help the organisation to effectively store employee data more securely and accurately. This study can be further extended in implementation of other modules of HRIS like recruitment, training, and development, compensation, benefits and payroll. (http://www.msrsas.org/docs/sastech_journals/archives/May2011/8.pdf) HUMAN RESOURCES FOR PUBLIC HEALTH IN INDIA – ISSUES AND CHALLENGES Deoki Nandan*, K.S. Nair** and U.Datta*** Availability of adequate number of human resources with suitable skill mix and their appropriate deployment at different levels of health care set-up are essential for providing an effective health care service for the population. Since independence, concerted efforts have been made to address the need for human resources for health in India. However, shortage exists in all categories of human resources at different levels. Ensuring the availability of human resources for health in rural areas and building their capacity in public health are daunting tasks. Future challenges include planning for human resource for public health at State/national level, framing of State specific human resource development and training policy, creation of human resource management information system, reorientation of medical and para-medical education and ensuring proper utilization of the trained manpower and standardization of training. It is also important to link human resource development and trai ning policy to the National Rural Health Mission in achieving its goals. (http://medind.nic.in/hab/t07/i4/habt07i4p230.pdf)

Democracy vs. a Dictatorship

Democracy vs. a Dictatorship Free Online Research Papers One of the best example I can think of is Kaiser wilhelm’s and Adolf Hitler’s regime over Germany. Even though these regimes were socially troublesome, Germany prospered economically during these periods . During Kaiser Wilhem’s rule Germany was wealthy enough to compete with Britain’s royal navy which was the largest in the world. Hitler’s rule over Germany was bloody and tyrannous , where millions of people were killed, however Germany was one of the richest countries in the world during Hitler’s time , it had the largest army , navy and airforce after USA’s. Hitler’s regime not only brought monetary wealth but also discipline in the country which was very much required after the â€Å"cumbersome† democratic regime of Friedrich Ebert. Democracy is a faulted type of government. This statement can be complemented with an example , that is ; present day India, which is a democratic country. However, it is one of the most backward country’s in the world. More than 70% of the country is below the poverty line. The main form of industry is the primary industry which the monetary output is comparatively very low in comparison to secondary and tertiary industries. Another example to push dictatorship forward, is Fidel Castro’s regime over Cuba. Fidel Castro has ruled Cuba for the past 50 years or more. Even though the main industry is primary ( exporting sugar and tobacco) , it has prospered over the years. The fundamental principle of democracy is that it is â€Å" For the people , by the people and from the people .† This is exactly why it is flawed, because the government is virtually run by the people , who always have different views . However, I believe that an ideal government is a dicatorship Research Papers on Democracy vs. a DictatorshipAppeasement Policy Towards the Outbreak of World War 2Assess the importance of Nationalism 1815-1850 EuropeBringing Democracy to AfricaDefinition of Export QuotasPETSTEL analysis of IndiaQuebec and CanadaThe Effects of Illegal ImmigrationNever Been Kicked Out of a Place This NiceInfluences of Socio-Economic Status of Married MalesOpen Architechture a white paper

Analyze Supreme case of County Wayne vs Hathcock Essay

Analyze Supreme case of County Wayne vs Hathcock - Essay Example The only blight came with a small but significant percentage of landowners who refused to sell their lands voluntarily. For practicality reasons, this land could NOT be excluded from the noble project. This not only gave birth to the tussles between Wayne County and Hathock but also an interesting and applicable case to any urban planner and specifically a Michigan urban planner. Adopting a resolution of necessity and a declaration of taking the property (almost forcefully), Wayne County started condemnation procedures under the justification that thee land in question was to have more public benefits, in the long run, in its hands than in the aboriginal owners. The owners, on the other hand, felt that if the county was awarded eminent domain, which it did, it would be a constitutional breach. It is crucial to note that the Michigan Supreme Court had in 1981 used the case of public domain in a case Poletown Neighborhood Council v Detroit present on the same economic reasons as Wayne County’s. Article 10, section 2 of the Michigan constitution states that â€Å"private property shall not be taken for public use without just compensation. Property may only be taken if it is for a public purpose and if just compensation is provided.† An interesting debate on what exactly can be termed as public use ensued, with the term generating different ideas. For the land to meet the public test threshold and condemned property acquired by a private investor, the court set up 3 criterions. Public necessity was evident, the property remained very much subject to public control after transfer and that the reason for choosing the land did nothing but serve the public good. The court however failed to decipher any of the above exceptions applicable to Pinnacle Project. The Wayne v. Hathock opened other chapter to any planner’s mind: what if the land itself was the case of public

Operation Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Operation Management - Essay Example At the same time it is also very capital intensive as requires heavy machinery and costly equipment for both building of ships and carrying out repairs. It also requires a very large area or layout for its activities and needs to be next to a sea port or at least on the coast with very good rail and road facilities for transporting goods and materials. Its consumption of electrical power is also very great. It is for these reasons that this industry is not as widespread as some other industries like apparel manufacturing or food processing which may be bigger in size or turnover but far easier to manage and organize. For such an industry to survive and to prosper it must have certain traits and special skills. Such industries are also located in a few select areas of the world and have developed their knowledge base and their especially skilled workers over long periods of struggles and have become respected the world over for the excellence of their work. One such place in Europe is Rijeka, a city of 200,000 people, located on the north coast of Kvarna Bay between the Istrian Peninsula and the eastern Adriatic coast of Croatia. This small town boast of two shipyards and one of them is the famous Viktor Lenac Shipyard (formerly known as Lazarus). For forty years it was the pride of Yugoslavia, until Croatia seceded from it mother country and became independent in 1991. Because of political turbulence during the next ten years foreign buyer hesitated to give business to Croatian shipyards. But Viktor Lenac survived well as it concentrated on ship repairs and remained profitable all along. During the Yugoslavian days all shipyards were owned by the government but Croatia decided to opt for the open market economy and privatized the shipyards. Attracted by its profitability a group of Italian and American investors stepped in and took over the